Babu Antony (born 22 February 1966) is an Indian-American actor and martial artist, who works primarily in Malayalam cinema. He has also acted in several Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Sinhalese, Hindi and English films. He started his career doing antagonistic roles and progressed to supporting and leading roles as well. Babu owns a mixed martial art academy in Houston.[1]
Babu Antony | |
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![]() Babu Antony in the film Karinkunnam 6'S | |
Born | Ponkunnam, Kerala, India | 22 February 1966
Education | SIBM Pune (MBA) |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1985–present |
Spouse | Evgeniya Antony |
Children | 2 |
Relatives | Antony Thekkek (brother) |
Website | babuantony |
He made his debut in Bharathan's Chilampu (1986). His career highlights include Vaishali (1988), Aparahnam (1991) and Uppukandam Brothers (1993).[2]
Early life
editHe was born to T.J. Antony and Mariyam Antony in Ponkunnam, Kerala, India. He was educated in Sacred Heart High School, Government Boys High School and St. Dominic's High School Kanjirappally. He graduated in English literature from Pune. He has a master's degree in Business Administration in Human resources from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune. He worked as a cinematographer in Film and Television Institute of India, Pune which led to his entry into the film industry.[3] He has a Fifth Dan Black Belt in martial arts.
Career
editEarly in his career, he started making appearances in roles like Shathru (1985), Mizhineerppoovukal (1986) in Malayalam. He made a mark through Fazil's 1986 thriller Poovinu Puthiya Poonthennal. The film was remade into Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi. Babu reprised his role in all five versions. He made his debut by playing an antagonist in Bharathan's Chilambu (1987).
In 1987, he appeared for its debut in Tamil cinema with Sathyaraj in Poovizhi Vasalile and then Makkal En Pakkam. Later with Kamal Haasan's Vrutham (1987) in Malayalam and Per Sollum Pillai in Tamil. With Nizhalgal Ravi, he acted in a horror film, Veendum Lisa which were all commercial successes. He also played with Chiranjeevi in Pasivadi Pranam and Jebu Donga which was later a hit at the box office. He started his career as a villain and later on featured in leading roles with the image of an angry young man.
His debut film in Kannada was Shanti Kranti (1991). His movies like Aparahnam (1991), Gandhari (1993), Rajadhani (1994), Bharanakoodam (1994), Chantha (1995), Special Squad (1995) and Indian Military Intelligence (1995) helped him to build a large audience and fan following for him. Apart from these, he has worked as many different characters such as an ex-terrorist role in Aparahnam, a king's role in Vaishali (1988), an impecunious in Sayahnam (2000). Uppukandam Brothers (1993) gave a breakthrough for Babu's career in starring roles.[4]
He made his debut in Hindi cine-industry with the movie Hatya in 1988. He is also in Telugu films including Lorry Driver (1990), Sathruvu (1991) and Nippu Ravva (1993). His debut movies in English Made in USA (2005) and Leader (2009) in Sinhala. His other Tamil hits were Anjali (1990), Surieyan (1992), Airport (1993), Attahasam (2004), Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010), Kanchana (2011), Aadhi-Bhagavan (2013), Kaaviya Thalaivan (2014), Kaaka Muttai (2015), Adanga Maru (2018), Ponniyin Selvan (2022), Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023) and Leo (2023).
Personal life
editHe is married to Evgeniya Antony, who is a Russian American. The couple has two sons, Arthur Antony and Alex Antony. He trains his sons in martial arts and Arthur got his 1st Dan Black Belt in MMA.[5]
Filmography
edit† | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1985 | Shathru | Man in the crowd | Malayalam | Debut film |
1986 | Onnu Randu Moonnu | |||
Mizhineerppoovukal | Richard's friend | |||
Poovinu Puthiya Poonthennal | Renji | |||
Pranamam | Ajith | |||
1987 | Poovizhi Vasalile | Ranjith | Tamil | |
Jaithra Yaathra | Malayalam | |||
Makkal En Pakkam | Kidnapper | Tamil | ||
Chilambu | Nephew of Appu Nair | Malayalam | ||
Vrutham | Freddy | |||
Per Sollum Pillai | Tamil | |||
Pasivadi Pranam | Ranjith | Telugu | ||
Veendum Lisa | John Fernandes | Malayalam | ||
My Dear Lisa | John Fernandes | Tamil | ||
Jebu Donga | Mike | Telugu | ||
1988 | Hatya | Ranjit | Hindi | |
Vaisali | Lomapadhan | Malayalam | ||
Trinetrudu | Telugu | |||
Moonnam Mura | Antony | Malayalam | ||
1989 | New Year | Robert | ||
Douthyam | Gang Leader | |||
Antharjanam | Vishnu Namboothiri | |||
The News | Victor George | |||
Carnivel | James | |||
Jagratha | Babu | |||
Adavilo Abhimanyudu | Max | Telugu | ||
1990 | Jawani Ki Jalan | Hindi | ||
Kottayam Kunjachan | Psycho Jimmy | Malayalam | ||
Randam Varavu | Customs Officer Stephen | |||
Anjali | Dharma | Tamil | ||
Magaadu | Telugu | |||
Vyooham | Malayalam | |||
Lorry Driver | Seenu | Telugu | ||
1991 | Sathruvu | Jorge | ||
Chaitanya | Thug | |||
Koodikazhcha | Williams | Malayalam | ||
Aparaahnam | Nandakumar | |||
Shanti Kranti | Bob | Kannada | ||
Shanti Kranti | Bob | Telugu | ||
Nattukku Oru Nallavan | Bob | Tamil | ||
Shanti Kranti | Bob | Hindi | ||
Kuttapathram | Vicky | Malayalam | ||
Chakravarthy | Edwin | |||
1992 | Kauravar | Hamsa | ||
Kavacham | ||||
Kasarkode Khaderbai | Kasim Bhai | |||
Ravivarma | Kannada | |||
Ezhara Ponnana | Charlie | Malayalam | ||
Surieyan | Micky | Tamil | ||
Thirumathi Palanisamy | ||||
Naadody | Jackson | Malayalam | ||
1993 | Nippu Ravva | Dasu | Telugu | |
Gandhari | Vishnu | Malayalam | ||
Uppukandam Brothers | Uppukandam Sevichan | Malayalam | ||
I Love India | Tamil | |||
Mafia | Chandra Gowda | Malayalam | ||
Airport | Tamil | |||
1994 | Kadal | Bapooty | Malayalam | |
Napoleon | Abu Salim | |||
Rajadhani | Abbas Amanulla Khan | |||
Kambolam | Tharakandam Daniel / Dany | |||
Dadha | Bharathan | |||
Bharanakoodam | Dany | |||
1995 | Street | Guruji | ||
Boxer | Jimmy Cherian | |||
Rajakeeyam | Durga Dathan | |||
Chantha | Sulthan | |||
Special Squad | Siby Matthew | |||
Arabia | Akbar Ali | |||
Indian Military Intelligence | Imran Khan | |||
1996 | Nethaji | Baba | Tamil | |
1997 | Hitler Brothers | Narendran | Malayalam | |
Yuvasakthi | Kannada | |||
Pagaivan | Dharman's brother | Tamil | ||
1998 | Gloria Fernandes from USA | Fernandes | Malayalam | |
1999 | Jananaayakan | Rajmohan | ||
Devadasi | ||||
Captain | Ranger Haridas | |||
2000 | Shayanam | |||
2001 | Sravu | Bawa | ||
Nayak: The Real Hero | Sniper | Hindi | ||
Uthaman | Pulimuttathu Sunny Thomas | Malayalam | ||
Unnathangalil | Thug | Cameo appearance | ||
2002 | Thandavam | Sufi | ||
2004 | Campus | Sathya's brother | Tamil | |
Shambu | Malayalam | |||
Vajram | Paulson Williams | |||
Black | Govind Chengappa IPS | |||
Attahasam | Manthiram | Tamil | ||
Nothing but Life | Omar | Malayalam | ||
2005 | Made in USA | Omar | English | |
2006 | Highway Police | Mammad | Malayalam | |
2008 | Twenty:20 | Vikram Bhai | ||
Ekaloveyudu | Bhakta | Telugu | ||
Shambhu | Adisheshan | Malayalam | ||
2009 | Leader | Raghuwaran / Kimbulawala Soththi Siran | Sinhala | |
Thirunakkara Perumal | Job | Malayalam | ||
2010 | Thathwamasi | Parashurama | ||
Yugapurushan | Ayyankali | |||
Sufi Paranja Katha | Sufi | |||
Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa | Joseph (Jessie's father) | Tamil | ||
Ye Maaya Chesave | Joseph (Jessie's father) | Telugu | Cameo appearance | |
9 KK Road | Devdas Adiyodi | Malayalam | ||
Kanyakumari Express | Ranjan Philip | |||
Again Kasargod Khader Bhai | Kasargod Kasim Bhai | |||
2011 | Christian Brothers | Captain Rasheed Rahman | ||
Uppukandam Brothers: Back in Action | Uppukandam Sevichan | |||
Rowthiram | Priya's father | Tamil | ||
Kanchana | Basheer Bhai | |||
2012 | Ekk Deewana Tha | Advocate Joseph (Jessie's father) | Hindi | |
Cobra | Isaac | Malayalam | ||
Grandmaster | Victor Rosetti | |||
Kalpana | Akbar Bhai | Kannada | ||
2013 | Aadhi Bhagavan | Sam | Tamil | |
Buddy | Chandran Singh | Malayalam | ||
Idukki Gold | Antony | |||
2014 | Kaaka Muttai | Shiva Chidambaram | Tamil | |
Villali Veeran | Malayalam | |||
Homely Meals | Himself | |||
Kaaviya Thalaivan | Zamindar | Tamil | ||
2016 | Krishnashtami | Telugu | ||
Moonam Naal Njayarazhcha | Malayalam | |||
Karinkunnam 6's | Douglas | |||
2017 | Ezra | Rabbi David Benyamin | [6] | |
Zacharia Pothen Jeevichirippundu | Chami | |||
2018 | Kayamkulam Kochunni | Thangal | ||
Adanga Maru | Sanjay | Tamil | ||
2019 | Mikhael | John | Malayalam | Cameo appearance |
Bullets Blades and Blood | English | |||
2022 | The Great Escape | Bob Christo | Malayalam | |
Headmaster | ||||
Neepa | ||||
Ponniyin Selvan: I | Rashtrakuta King Khottiga | Tamil | ||
2023 | Madanolsavam | Madanan Manjakkaaran | Malayalam | [7] |
Ponniyin Selvan: II | Rashrakuta King Khottiga | Tamil | ||
RDX: Robert Dony Xavier | Antony Aashan | Malayalam | ||
Leo | Antony's henchman | Tamil | [8] | |
2024 | DNA | DCP Raja Mohammed | Malayalam | Cameo appearance[9] |
Oru Jaathi Jathakam † | TBA | [10] | ||
Bazooka † | TBA | [11] |
References
edit- ^ Vijayakumar, Sindhu (12 February 2018). "Even a villain should have a character, which people can remember: Babu Antony". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 4 October 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ "Exclusive biography of #BabuAntony and on his life".
- ^ "On Record with T.N.Gopakumar". asianetnews. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
- ^ Mathews, Anna. "Babu Antony shares bittersweet memory of favourite role". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
- ^ "Babu Antony on training his sons in martial arts". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 19 August 2020. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
- ^ Kannan, Arathi (10 February 2017). "Ezra review: Almost 'dybbuk'ed, but not debunked". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ "New single from Suraj Venjaramoodu's Madanolsavam out". Cinema Express. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ "Babu Antony in awe of Vijay's humbleness in 'Leo' sets". The Times of India.
- ^ Features, C. E. (11 May 2024). "Raai Laxmi's DNA gets a release date". Cinema Express. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Vineeth Srinivasan's Oru Jathi Jathakam Goes On Floors In Kochi". News18. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ Features, C. E. (22 March 2024). "It's a wrap for Mammootty's Bazooka". Cinema Express. Retrieved 19 May 2024.